Merry Christmas ... Pray for HERALD's permit to be renewed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU

Let's all hope that the publication permit of the the HERALD, the Catholic weekly publication, which ends 31/12/2008, be renewed promptly so there is no disruption.

Catholic weekly The Herald may have to stop publication as its publishing permit, which expires at the end of the month, has still not been renewed.

The weekly, recently the subject of controversy over the use of the word 'Allah' in its content, needs to have the permit renewed by Dec 31 to continue operations next year.

Its editor, Father Lawrence Andrew, said the paper's licence was usually renewed three months before the deadline.

However, this year, the Home Ministry has yet to renew the permit although The Herald applied for a renewal earlier than it usually does.

"We expected difficulties, so we applied in July. There should be no reason for the delay," said Lawrence.

"The government said it was still reviewing our licence. But we are now at the tail-end of the year. I must let people know what is going on." - New Straits Times, 18/12/2008 - Catholic weekly made to wait for renewal permit

Let us also pray for a better government who do not have Ministers (and Deputy Ministers) who are just so evil and unreasonable. Torture - that is what the government of Malaysia is doing to the Herald, the Catholic Church and all Malaysian Catholics. They refuse to give any approval (or otherwise) until end of the year.

Of course, if the permit is not renewed, then the Catholic Church have a right to appeal to the Minister...and as such for an application submitted in July, should not an answer be given by now?

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, in an interview with Reuters yesterday, said the government was "still reviewing" The Herald's licence and was following "due process".

"Until Dec 31, we are not going to announce anything. There is plenty of time. Let them wait." - New Straits Times, 18/12/2008 - Catholic weekly made to wait for renewal permit

Let's also pray for greater JUSTICE and peace in Malaysia ...and the whole world. This PEACE that we want is not the peace of keeping quite...not rocking the boat...and just accepting all that is done. The peace that we strive for is TRUE PEACE... and for true peace to be there must first of all be justice and a respect for human rights.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU

GOD BLESS